non-peer-reviewed; Background: Collaborative practice between teachers and speech and language therapists (SaLTs) can augment secondary school students’ vocabulary learning through whole class interventions. Research that explores teachers’ experiences of implementing collaborative language interventions is relatively rare. The current study sought to explore teachers’ perceptions of the process and outcomes of a whole class Vocabulary Enrichment Programme (VEP) with first year students attending disadvantaged secondary schools.
Aims: To describe teachers’ views on the process and outcomes of implementing a whole class VEP, including their experiences of collaborating with a speech and language therapist (SaLT), the positive and challenging activities within the VEP and possible barriers and facilitators to effectively teaching the VEP.
Methodology: Eight teachers from two secondary schools participated in semi-structured interviews within two months of completing the intervention. Eight questions relating to the research aims were used to guide the semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was performed on the resulting transcribed data.
Results: Teachers’ perceived that liaison with the VEP SaLT was an important element of the intervention. Teachers’ highlighted the necessity of vocabulary learning for students and indicated that the multidimensional nature of the learning objectives in the VEP broke down barriers to language learning for students...

The authors use propensity score
matching to evaluate the effectiveness of CONAFE, a
compensatory education program in Mexico, in improving
student test scores and lowering repetition and failure
rates. They find that CONAFE is most effective in improving
primary school math learning and secondary school Spanish
learning. Secondary education delivered by way of television
to remote communities and bilingual education for indigenous
students are both shown to improve student achievement.
CONAFE also lowers primary school repetition and failure
rates. The authors conclude that this compensatory education
program can effectively improve short-term learning results
for disadvantaged students, but that improvement varies by
the subject of instruction and the demographics of students taught.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken in order to determine the risk factors for pregnancies complicated by placental abruption in a socio-economically disadvantaged region in metropolitan Adelaide. METHODS: This was a retrospective case-control study including all singleton pregnancies resulting in placental abruption between 2001 and 2005. RESULTS: The overall incidence of placental abruption was 1.0%; the overall perinatal mortality among the births with abruption was 13%. Univariate analyses showed the following significant risk factors for placental abruption: preterm pre-labor rupture of the membranes (PRE-PROM; odds ratio (OR) 4.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.52-15.08), non-compliance with antenatal care (OR 2.93, 95% CI 1.06-8.90), severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and elevated homocysteine levels (OR 45.55, 95% CI 7.05-458.93). Severe IUGR was significantly more common in the abruption group compared with the control group (p = 0.032). In the multivariate analysis, PRE-PROM remained a significant independent risk factor for placental abruption. Marijuana use, domestic violence, and mental health problems were more common (borderline significance) in the abruption group. Smoking and preeclampsia were not found to be associated with placental abruption in this study. CONCLUSIONS: In this high-risk population...

In the international literature on climate change there is an emerging concern that the negative effects of climate change will be disproportionately experienced by those who are economically and socially disadvantaged, further widening the gap between them and more advantaged population groups. However, the relationship between climate change impact and social disadvantage remains little investigated. This study has sought to contribute to this gap by adding to the small body of empirical knowledge of the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of disadvantaged groups in Australia in the face of impending adverse impacts of climate change. The study provides a discussion of the historical and future climate trends and its implications for the population. However, it goes on to discuss the concept of social vulnerability in the international literature and to show that at the local level population vulnerability to climate change is more likely to be defined by the socio-economic differences in the community, than by environmental impact. Adding to the wide discussion of the concept and operationalization of climate vulnerability this study adapted an approach of developing a measure of social exclusion as a way of measuring social vulnerability and adaptive capacity. The study uses ABS 2011 Population Census data to measure social vulnerability at LGA level. It also uses quantitative data collected from 1800 CATI interviews in three contrasting communities in South Australia (Port Pirie...

BACKGROUND: Children from disadvantaged families including those from low socioeconomic backgrounds and Indigenous families have higher rates of obesity, making early intervention a priority. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature to examine the effectiveness of interventions to prevent obesity or improve obesity related behaviours in children 0-5 years from socioeconomically disadvantaged or Indigenous families. METHODS: Searches of major electronic databases identified articles published from 1993-2013 targeting feeding practices, anthropometric, diet, activity or sedentary behaviour outcomes. This was supplemented with snowballing from existing reviews and primary studies. Data extraction was undertaken by one author and cross checked by another. Quality assessments included both internal and external validity. RESULTS: Thirty-two studies were identified, with only two (both low quality) in Indigenous groups. Fourteen studies had a primary aim to prevent obesity. Mean differences between intervention and control groups ranged from -0.29 kg/m(2) to -0.54 kg/m(2) for body mass index (BMI) and -2.9 to -25.6% for the prevalence of overweight/obesity. Interventions initiated in infancy (under two years) had a positive impact on obesity related behaviours (e.g. diet quality) but few measured the longer-term impact on healthy weight gain. Findings amongst pre-schoolers (3-5 years) were mixed...

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited; This thesis analyzes the role of the Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Specialist (SADBUS) at the Navy Regional Contracting Center (NRCC) Philadelphia, PA and NRCC San Diego, CA Detachment Long Beach, CA. The focus of the research was to determine what measures need to be taken to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these SADBU Specialists. The thesis begins with a brief review of the statutes and regulations which govern the role of the SADBUS in the Department of Defense. Through a comparative analysis of the two NRCCs, the researcher was able to reach certain conclusions about improvements which need to be made to the role of the SADBU Specialist at each NRCC. the researcher concluded that each SADBUD could be more effective in their position, if they increased the amount of market research they performed. Both SADBU Specialist also need to improve the quality of the market research they perform, to identify Small Businesses capable of performing successfully on Government procurement contracts.; http://archive.org/details/comparisonofsmal00henn; Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.; The trend toward increased quality of military recruits over the past decade is projected to continue into the 1990s. The effect of this trend, combined with the planned force drawdown, may limit opportunities for the nation's disadvantaged youth to serve in the military. A policy analysis was conducted using five previous studies of Project 100,000 to determine the feasibility of recruiting disadvantaged youth for military service. Project 100, 000 (1966-1971) relaxed the military's entrance standards so that a large number of individuals who would have otherwise been disqualified could serve. The five previous studies were beset by numerous methodological weaknesses and produced conflicting results. Consequently, no definitive conclusion could be drawn regarding the merits of recruiting disadvantaged youth in the years ahead. Alternative approaches for further research are presented.; Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy

Effectively educating all citizens is
difficult in a geographically disperse and culturally
heterogeneous country such as Mexico. How should Mexico
educate the type of students who speak no Spanish, live in
villages inaccessible by roads, or come from families that
cannot afford school uniforms? Mexico began to address this
challenge as early as 1971 by creating the National Council
of Education Promotion (CONAFE), a division of Mexico's
Secretariat of Public Education (SEP). CONAFE provides extra
resources to schools that enroll disadvantaged students.
CONAFE's compensatory education (see Box 1) programs
now support more than three million students in pre-primary
and primary education, and about one million students in
telesecundaria education, or secondary education delivered
via satellite television to remote schools. A recent
evaluation of the impact of CONAFE's compensatory
programs finds that CONAFE is most effective in improving
primary school math learning and secondary school Spanish
learning. Telesecundaria education and bilingual education
for indigenous students are both shown to improve student
achievement. CONAFE is also shown to lower primary school
repetition and failure rates.

The World Bank is focused on developing
and supporting programs that help children reach their
potential and live lives free of poverty. To help build a
body of evidence of what works, the World Bank financed an
evaluation of a program in Jamaica that targeted mothers of
babies stunted due to malnutrition. The mothers received
either support or guidance on how to encourage their
babies' development through play and language, or
nutritional supplements, or a combination of the two. The
children whose mothers had received the extra guidance were
doing as well financially as the less disadvantaged (and
non-stunted) children. This study is a rare look at the
effects of early childhood intervention over the decades,
giving policymakers and development experts tangible proof
of the potential effects of early childhood development
programs. A rare long-term study of the effects of an early
childhood development program shows that children's
lives can be improved by ensuring that they have the right
stimulation and emotional support as babies and toddlers.

peer-reviewed; Large numbers of men benefit materially, socially and politically from
patriarchy, but the advantages described as the 'patriarchal dividend' are
not spread equally among men.' In other words, not all men are equally
privileged. In this context, a key issue is how do men negotiate their identities
as men within disadvantaged areas? This raises questions about the
social and economic structures in which they live as well as about their
cultural definitions of masculinities. Connell suggested that, 'Masculinities
are constructed, over time, in young people's encounters with a system of
gender relations," Thus gender 'is something people do' and it varies
across time and place.'

The World Bank is focused on developing
and supporting programs that help children reach their
potential and live lives free of poverty. To help build a
body of evidence of what works, the World Bank financed an
evaluation of a program in Jamaica that targeted mothers of
babies stunted due to malnutrition. The mothers received
either support or guidance on how to encourage their babies
development through play and language, or nutritional
supplements, or a combination of the two. The children whose
mothers had received the extra guidance were doing as well
financially as the less disadvantaged (and non-stunted)
children. This study is a rare look at the effects of early
childhood intervention over the decades, giving policymakers
and development experts tangible proof of the potential
effects of early childhood development programs. A rare
long-term study of the effects of an early childhood
development program shows that childrens lives can be
improved by ensuring that they have the right stimulation
and emotional support as babies and toddlers. This Evidence
to Policy note was jointly produced by the World Bank Group...

Disparities in access to dental services have been reported for particular groups of Australians. Consequently, these groups suffer a greater burden of oral disease when compared with the general population. The reasons why dentists do not undertake and/or sustain working with disadvantaged patients are well known but not so well known is what drives those who do. This project aims to better understand the characteristics of dentists whose practice orientation is focused on care for disadvantaged groups. This will supplement existing knowledge of dentists’ career decision making, allow more targeted recruitment of dental applicants, and inform admissions committees and dental educators about how best to prepare students with the skills, attributes and experiences necessary to serve all Australians. The aim of this research project was to explore the characteristics, values, beliefs, and motivations of dentists who work with disadvantaged patients and compare the findings with those who treat mainly general patients. A sequential mixed-method study design was undertaken. Dentists who worked with underserved groups were purposefully recruited using the ‘snowballing’ technique and interviewed. Thematic analysis of the transcripts followed; the findings of which formed the basis of the questionnaire sent to a random sample of registered dentists in Australia. Univariate...

The intellectual development of socioeconomically disadvantaged preschool children is influenced by several factors. The development of intelligence is a multidimensional concept that is determined by biological, social, and environmental factors. In this literature review, however, only the social and environmental factors are discussed. Some of the factors that have profound effect on children's cognitive development are as follows: environmental stimulation, parental attitudes, maternal age, and education. Successful intervention and prevention programs aimed at enhancing children's cognitive development are also exemplified. It appears that early intervention programs in the second and third year of an infant's life have fundamental effects on the cognitive development of disadvan-taged children. It is clear that learning starts with birth. Longitudinal studies revealed that the most effective period for intervention is early childhood. Those who received early day-care and preschool intervention programs have sustained these gains in adolescence and adulthood. Those benefits include higher IQ scores, better achievement test scores, better reading and math skills, more educational attainment, more college degrees, and fewer psychosocial and mental health problems. Therefore...

The aim of this study was to identify influences on the job satisfaction of previously disadvantaged school principals in North- West Province. Evans's theory of job satisfaction, morale and motivation was useful as a conceptual framework. A mixed-methods explanatory research design was important in discovering issues with which these principals struggled. Thirty principals of secondary schools located in the rural villages and townships in the province were purposefully selected. A structured questionnaire was used during the quantitative phase. The items in the questionnaire determined the principals' views on intrinsic and contextual factors related to their working environment. These items were followed by open-ended questions. Additional qualitative data were obtained through interviews with eight principals selected from the same group. Although the principals enjoyed intrinsic aspects of their work and positive interpersonal relations at their schools, the results were significant in determining how the principals struggled with other issues (e.g. policies and practices of the Department of Basic Education). Underpinning factors were unrealistic expectations and negative perceptions that influenced their professionalism. A key factor that emerged was power versus powerlessness.

Health professionals have a limited understanding of the experiences of mothers caring for a child with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a context of disadvantage. This may be due to the dearth of qualitative research on this topic in the South Africa. This phenomenological study aimed to explore and describe the lived experiences of four mothers caring for their children with severe TBI in disadvantaged communities in the Cape Flats. Their lived experiences were described in terms of lived space, lived body, lived social relationships and lived time. Two in-depth interviews were done with each of the four mothers. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed inductively. The three themes which emerged from the analysis were: "personal burden of care", "living a different life with a different child" and "holding onto faith and hope". The findings highlighted that caring for a child with TBI changed the mothers' circumstances in such a way that they had no time for themselves, because caring for and worrying about their children consumed their whole day. They also experienced an increased financial burden as they resigned from their employment to care for their children fulltime. They had to change their parenting styles as the children had different needs than before the TBI. The mothers also identified many needs of their own...

The development of inexperienced researchers is crucial. In response to the lack of research self-efficacy of many previously disadvantaged individuals, the article examines how mentoring can enhance the research self-efficacy of mentees. The study is grounded in the self-efficacy theory (SET) - an aspect of the social cognitive theory (SCT). Insights were gained from an in-depth study of SCT, SET and mentoring, and from a completed mentoring project. This led to the formulation of three basic principles. Firstly, institutions need to provide supportive environmental conditions that facilitate research self-efficacy. This implies a supportive and efficient collective system. The possible effects of performance ratings and reward systems at the institution also need to be considered. Secondly, mentoring needs to create opportunities for young researchers to experience successful learning as a result of appropriate action. To this end, mentees need to be involved in actual research projects in small groups. At the same time the mentor needs to facilitate skills development by coaching and encouragement. Thirdly, mentors need to encourage mentees to believe in their ability to successfully complete research projects. This implies encouraging positive emotional states...

This paper investigates factors that motivate educators to use Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in schools in disadvantaged areas. The study employed Herzberg' Motivation-Hygiene theory to guide the process of understanding the factors that motivate or demotivate educators when using the technology for teaching and learning. Qualitative research approach was used to gather and analyse information from educators from randomly sampled schools located in disadvantaged areas in the Western Cape. The study has shown that educators' motivation to use technology for curriculum delivery could be impacted by satisfaction derived from using the ICTs, individual expectations, responsibility and a sense of achievement experienced when using the technologies.

The traditional corporate annual report consists of two types of disclosures, that is, mandatory and contextual disclosures. The research problem focuses on the issue whether full disclosure in corporate annual reports could entail mandatory and contextual disclosures as well as a more subtle set of information for disadvantaged stakeholders. To solve the research problem, use was mainly made of a literature review dealing with certain aspects of decision-useful financial reporting. The literature review was complemented by exploratory empirical research. It was found that full disclosure in corporate annual reports could consist of mandatory and contextual disclosures as well as a more subtle set of information for disadvantaged stakeholders.